Chapter 143: My Hokage Father

"Homura!"

"No—"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were splitting with rage; the pain and fury in his heart erupted in an instant, and the chakra around his body surged wildly, forcibly snapping some of the branches wrapped around him.

Even as his arms were cut by the branches and his clothes were soaked in fresh blood, he felt no pain.

The Third Hokage's eyes were bloodshot as he stared fixedly at Senju Hashirama, roaring, "Lord First Hokage, why kill Homura? Why?"

The Third Hokage's rage was as insignificant as a breeze before the First Hokage.

Senju Hashirama replied coldly, "Because he is an enemy, and enemies of Konoha deserve to die!"

"You, as well..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was struck with horror; he felt a direct, pure killing intent, and it was aimed squarely at him.

Without a second thought, he quickly formed hand seals, condensing chakra of all five attributes simultaneously: "Ninjutsu: Five Elements Great Barrage!"

Ninjutsu of the five attributes—Fire Style, Wind Style, Earth Style, Lightning Release, and Water Style—were cast at once, combining and amplifying each other to form a massive torrent of energy that surged toward Senju Hashirama with the momentum to destroy everything.

Senju Hashirama laughed: "Hahaha, I seem to have heard that you, monkey, are honored by the Konoha Ninja as the 'strongest Hokage in history.' It seems there is some truth to it, as you actually dare to challenge me."

"If only you were this tough when facing ninjas from other villages, how good that would be?"

Senju Hashirama sighed and raised his hand slightly; countless branches surged from the ground, automatically stripping their bark, dehydrating, and shaping themselves into sturdy, thick wooden planks, which then spliced together into a massive wooden wall.

The attack of the Five Elements Great Barrage slammed into the wooden wall, emitting a heaven-shaking "Boom—!"

The massive shockwave failed to destroy the wooden wall and was instead reflected back, shaking Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had cast the ninjutsu, until he retreated repeatedly, spraying blood from his mouth.

Senju Hashirama seized the opportunity to pursue; his Wood Release chakra surged violently, and more tree roots and branches poured in from all directions, wrapping Sarutobi Hiruzen into a wooden sphere.

It was even larger and tighter than the one that had finished off Mitokado Homura, and the creaking sound of the twisting wood was enough to make one's hair stand on end.

It was not just Sarutobi Hiruzen who was captured; Utatane Koharu did not escape either.

Mitokado Homura's sudden death in battle left a massive gap in her flank defense, and she was immediately ensnared by branches around her neck.

She had originally counted on Sarutobi Hiruzen to save her, but as the branches tightened and breathing became increasingly difficult, Utatane Koharu could no longer struggle desperately.

But seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen wrapped into a wooden sphere in a single exchange before the First Hokage, her fighting spirit collapsed instantly.

Utatane Koharu could clearly feel her neck being constricted tighter and tighter; the shadow of death was approaching step by step.

Her eyes were filled with fear and unwillingness—unwilling to die like this, unwilling for the privileges of the Utatane Clan to end here, and unwilling for her life's work to come to nothing.

A destruction where even one's reputation could not be saved.

"This is the power of Wood Release!"

Orochimaru's eyes shone with greed and a thirst for knowledge as he said, "Lord Senju Hashirama is restricted by the sacrifice and cannot even display the strength he had in life, yet he can defeat my teacher in a crushing manner. Wood Release is truly too strong!"

Yamanaka Chujiu thought to himself: Teacher Orochimaru is right, but this is just the beginning.

If one could get a White Zetsu as a sacrifice, one could at least bring out a Wood Golem.

If one were to mix Hashirama Cell into the White Zetsu, letting the First Hokage use his own essence to fuel his own technique, one might actually be able to pull off a True Several Thousand Hands.

He shook his head and smiled: "As expected of the senior Hokage who ended the Warring States Era and pioneered the era of ninja villages, crushing the evil forces that occupied the power of Konohagakure so easily."

"Mitokado Homura is dead; who is next, Sarutobi Hiruzen or Utatane Koharu?"

Yamanaka Chujiu sensed the emotions of the two Hokage and sighed: "The First Hokage's killing intent has dissipated, and so has the Second Hokage's; the two of them might not die."

"What a pity..."

Orochimaru smiled: "No need to feel pity; our goal is not necessarily to kill Teacher Sarutobi, but to completely end the illegal rule of the Third Hokage's restoration!"

Just as Yamanaka Chujiu guessed, Senju Hashirama no longer had the intent to kill; he pressed his palms together, and thick tree roots burst from the ground, rolling toward Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu.

Countless branches also descended from the sky, forming an all-encompassing net that completely shrouded the two.

Wood Release: Wood Binding Eternal Burial!

Branches, roots, and vines entangled them, then grew wildly into a large tree, burying and sealing the two underground.

Just then, violent chakra erupted from within the wooden sphere, and flames sprayed outward through the gaps in the branches and roots.

The sprayed flames transformed into four fire dragons, erupting with a heaven-shaking roar.

Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song Technique!

The fire dragons dove and dashed, tearing at the wooden sphere with higher efficiency, easily destroying the structural integrity of the Wood Release technique and revealing the frame constructed by the Adamantine Staff.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had not been strangled to death; he had even protected Utatane Koharu.

He shouted in grief and indignation: "Lord First Hokage, you are too cruel! I will not submit to you, and Konohagakure will not submit either!"

Senju Hashirama: "..."

The First Hokage turned his head to look at his younger brother: "Tobirama, is the monkey talking about me?"

"Why do I feel like these are my lines, the ones I said to Madara?"

Senju Tobirama scratched his cheek in embarrassment: "Big Brother, the monkey is indeed talking about you..."

Senju Hashirama was furious: "How does he have the face to say that about me? If I were cruel, does he think that stick the dead monkey turned into would be enough to save his life?"

Just then, shouts rang out from the primeval forest: "Follow the strongest Third, kill the rebellious First!"

Senju Hashirama was dumbfounded: "..."

Senju Tobirama covered his face with his hands: "..."

Orochimaru's tongue even fell out, and Yamanaka Chujiu's eyes widened as well.

What on earth are these people shouting?

What "strongest Third"?

What "rebellious First"?

Are they afraid Sarutobi Hiruzen isn't dying fast enough?

The Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado Ninja trapped by the forest rushed out one after another, their expressions anxious and their eyes filled with fighting spirit.

What was even more unexpected was that a group of ninjas had also arrived from the south of the village, but these ninjas did not have Konohagakure Headbands on their heads.

They were the guardian ninja of the Fire Daimyo, and the one leading them was none other than Hiruzen's second son, Konoha Jonin Sarutobi Asuma.

Come to think of it, since Asuma had already become one of the Guardian Shinobi Twelve, the fact that he still wore the Konoha Headband and held the status of a Konoha Jonin was full of problems.

Despite the tense relationship between Sarutobi Asuma and Hiruzen, as a son, he was instantly filled with rage upon seeing his father covered in wounds: "Father!"

He quickly formed hand seals with both hands and spat out a massive ball of flame from his mouth: "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

The massive fireball roared toward Senju Hashirama.

"Let go of my Hokage father!"